Marijuana seized, 7 arrested on La Jolla beach

San Diego  Authorities seized 40 bales of marijuana and arrested several people early Tuesday after a boat came ashore in La Jolla.

The red panga was spotted at Windansea Beach near about Neptune Place and Palomar Avenue about 1:15 a.m., Border Patrol Agent Mark Endicott said.

Several people were seen unloading the drugs from the boat onto a white van. When authorities arrived they scattered and fled in various directions, jumping fences and running through backyards, San Diego police said.

Immigration and Customs Agents as well as police, aided by a helicopter, searched the area and took at least seven and possibly eight people into custody, police said.

A second boat was discovered about 3:00 a.m. at Dog Beach and agents arrested 12 Mexicans and one Guatemalan who were smuggled into the country illegally, Endicott said. No drugs were found on the second boat.

The group was taken to a local Border Patrol station for further investigation.